How long should you wait to eat after a filling

You should wait at least 24 hours before eating solid foods again after you have had a filling. Since your mouth will be numb from the anaesthetic, you may not feel anything from the affected area during this period. It is best to avoid hot foods and drinks such as coffee as you could burn or bite your lip without feeling it!

If you are feeling hungry, you may want to eat soft foods or drink water through a straw. Once your filling is placed, it is best to consult with your dentist to see what the best course of action is for your oral health.

What happens during the procedure?

Firstly, your dentist will place a numbing gel onto your gums with a swab near your affected tooth. Once applied, a local anaesthetic will be inserted into your gums to help numb your tooth, so you do not feel any pain during the procedure.

Once your tooth is numb, your dentist will begin to remove the decay from your tooth. During this time, you may feel slight vibrations coming from your tooth. If you feel any pain or increased sensitivity, let your dentist know immediately.

Depending on your case, they may fill the hole left behind from the decay with either porcelain or composite. A composite resin or white filling is more common amongst our patients while both materials help to restore your tooth’s:

• Functionality
• Natural Colour
• Shape

Can I drink coffee after a filling?

You may want to avoid consuming hot drinks like coffee or tea following a filling treatment as your gums and tooth will still be numb. Due to the local anaesthetic inserted into your gums, the affects of this may take a few hours to wear off.

Therefore, you may not even feel the coffee burning your mouth if it is too hot. You may also want to avoid very cold drinks and eating solid foods.

We recommend waiting around 1 to 2 hours following your treatment before starting to consider eating soft foods again.

However, every case is different. For some patients, the effects may take longer to wear off so you should wait until you have a sense of feeling within your mouth. Again, wait 24 hours before returning to your normal eating habits.

Your dentist will be able to advise you of the right course of action before you leave the practice. If you encounter any problems following your procedure, you should contact your dentist immediately.

Taking care of your filling

When taking care of your filling following your procedure, you should avoid:

• Hot or cold solid foods and drinks
• Chewing or biting too hard
• Brushing your teeth too hard
• Soft or fizzy drinks

By avoiding all of these, you can help your filling to settle within your tooth.

In the long run, you should maintain practicing good oral hygiene methods every day. This can be done through:

• Brushing twice a day
• Flossing once a day
• Attending regular check-ups every 6 months

By maintaining good oral hygiene, you can provide your teeth and filling with a good clean while removing any plaque or bacteria build up.

By doing this, you can help to limit anymore decay from developing within your teeth!

Dental fillings on the Gold Coast

If you require a filling on the Gold Coast, contact one of our friendly practices to find out how our dentists can help.

Our state-of-the-art facilities help our highly trained dentists to provide the best dental care to all our wonderful patient’s.

If you would like to book an appointment, you can do so by booking an appointment online 24/7.

Getting a tooth filling can be a quick, simple procedure. You go in, get an x-ray if necessary, receive a localized anesthetic, your dental professional will drill out the area of tooth decay. They'll place your filling – all within about an hour (of course, if you need more than one filling, it could take longer and may require more than one visit). Your tooth sensitivity, however, could last for a day or two and will make eating a bit more of an effort than you're used to. Luckily, we have some chewing tips that will help you protect your freshly repaired tooth, help you avoid unnecessary pain, and keep you smiling.

What Is a Tooth Filling?

Most often, fillings are used to fill a decaying portion of a tooth (a cavity). According to The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 92% of people aged 20-64 have had cavities in their adult teeth, so it's not by any means uncommon – but by practicing good oral hygiene, you can effectively prevent this tooth decay and avoid the fillings required to treat them.

Learn more about cavity prevention.

Fillings aren't only for cavities, though. They can also be used to fix teeth damaged by grinding (bruxism) and broken teeth. According to the Mayo Clinic, it's rare for bruxism to be so severe that it causes damage, but regular dental checkups can help you catch adverse effects early.

How Long After a Filling Procedure Should You Wait to Eat?

If you're wondering if you can eat after a filling, it's best to wait until after your local anesthetic wears off to ensure you don't chew on your tongue or your cheek without realizing it.

For silver fillings, it's typically recommended that you wait 24 hours before eating. If you get a resin filling, they set immediately, so you may be able to eat right away. Be sure to ask your dental professional if they have specific recommendations for your filling type and individual needs.

Learn more about filling types.

How to Chew After a Filling

By paying attention to what you eat after a filling and how you eat it, you can protect your new filling and lessen any pain.

• Chew on the opposite side of the mouth from your filling
  If possible, avoid chewing with the tooth you just had filled to prevent pain and damage.
• Chew slowly, bite lightly
  Take your time and try not to bite all the way through. A lot of the pressure of chewing is from your top teeth and bottom teeth pressing together. By keeping your jaw loose, you can minimize pain.
• Keep your mouth closed
  This isn't just to practice good manners – sometimes cold air can cause pain in sensitive teeth.
• Skip sticky foods
  Some fillings take time to set after you leave the dentist's office. Eating sticky or gummy food could dislodge a new filling, so it's best to avoid them for a little while.
• Avoid very hot or cold drinks
  High and low temperatures can trigger pain in sensitive teeth.
• Pass on the sweets
  Sugary foods and drinks can trigger sensitivity in your tooth and could even promote bacterial growth around or under your new filling.
• Avoid hard foods
  Foods like nuts, hard candy, or ice can cause more pressure on your tooth when you chew. Tough foods like steak, too. That pressure can dislodge your fresh filling if it hasn't properly set yet.

Your dental professional is in the best position to give you recommendations based on your filling type and individual needs, so be sure to follow their advice. If your teeth are still sensitive after a couple of weeks, or if your pain gets worse instead of better, follow up with your dental professional so they can help determine causes and solutions. You could require a minor, painless adjustment, but it could also be a sign of a more serious issue.

Now that you know some tips for chewing after your filling procedure, you should be able to get through the day or two of post-filling sensitivity with confidence. Be sure to practice good oral hygiene so you can avoid more tooth filling procedures in the future. Brush at least twice a day, and don't forget to brush your tongue. Consider using other helpful products like an antimicrobial mouth rinse and tongue scrapers. And visit your dental professional for regular appointments, and you'll be able to maintain a level of oral health that makes you smile. You can do this!